The government has issued detailed guidelines on the observance of India’s National Song, Vande Mataram, directing that all six stanzas of the official version must be rendered first whenever the National Song and the National Anthem are performed together. According to the Union Home Ministry, the full six-stanza version is to be sung or played on key state occasions such as the arrival of the President, the unfurling of the National Flag, and addresses by Governors, among other formal events.
Under these directions, the official version of the National Song shall be played on the occasion of Civil Investitures, upon arrival and departure of the President and Governor at formal State functions and other functions organised by the Government. It should also be played immediately before and after the President addresses the Nation over All India Radio-Akashvani and Television, and when the National Flag is brought on parade. The Ministry further added that people present at assemblies where the national song is performed must stand in an attention posture.
